Center post mountings for illuminated signs



y 14, 1957 K. w. RICHTER CENTER POST MOUNTINGS FOR ILLUMINATED SIGNS Filed May 12, 1954 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEyS.

M 20 771M a momb QENTER POST MOUNgIilgIIgSS FOR ILLUMINA'TED Kenneth W. Richter, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Evernrite Electric Signs, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,150

3 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to improvements in center post mountings for illuminated signs.

Electric display signs are customarily very bulky and relatively thick and include a wide frame member. Signs of this type are arranged for mounting either on a building, in an elevated position, or on a center post. With respect to the conventional display signs formed with heavy wide frames, no problem is involved in mounting the same on center posts because the sign drum frame is of sufiicient width to be formed with an opening to directly receive the upper end of the post. Recently, however, there have been developed illuminated display signs of relatively narrow, compact formation using drum frames of narrow structural steel elements which are of insufficient width to receive the upper end of a supporting post should it be desired to mount the display sign on a center post.

With the foregoing in mind, it is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a center post mounting for a relatively narrow illuminated sign frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with an illuminated display sign having a relatively narrow frame, a center post mounting therefor including a stirrup centrally mounted on a supporting post and secured to end portions of the sign frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a center post mounting for a narrow display sign frame which is adjustable and which can mount a sign frame without any modification of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a center post mounting for illuminated display signs which is of unique and attractive appearance and which in no manner interferes with the exposed surfaces of the sign and permits hinging movements of the faces of the sign for access to the interior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a center post mounting for illuminated signs which is of very simple construction, which is relatively inexpensive, which is easy to assemble and connect with a display sign, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a front view of a narrow frame illuminated display sign carried in an elevated position by the improved center post mounting, parts being broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the sign and its mounting, the supporting post being broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l and on a larger scale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that a relatively thin frame illuminated display sign is indicated generally by the numeral 5. The same includes a metallic drum or divider which, in the specific embodiment illustrated, may take the form of an open rectangular frame of relatively heavy channel iron members 6, which frame remains stationary and supports the ited if" rates Patent O inner elements of the electric sign such as ballasts, lamp sockets and illuminating lamps or tubes. The particular type of illuminated display sign under consideration is characterized by its narrow compact framework and is fully disclosed in the Carl H. Wamser copending application, Serial No. 419,710, filed March 30, 1954, now Patent No. 2,769,263, granted November 6, 1956. The drum or divider frame composed of the channel members 6 supports a pair of spaced-apart face frames 7, each of which frames has a transluscent sheet 8 which displays lettering or advertising indicia made visible through the illumination of lamps or tubes within the drum frame. In the particular type of illuminated sign frame under consideration the two face frames 7 are hinged along their upper margins to the upper longitudinal member of the drum frame and are arranged to swing outwardly with relation to the drum frame to afford access to the interior of the sign for servicing, repairs and replacements.

Illuminated sign frames of the type under consideration are adapted for mounting either on a building in an elevated position or on a vertical post. The problem of mounting a narrow frame sign on a center post involves difficulties because the stationary drum frame is not of sufiicient breadth to directly receive a supporting post. The present invention provides an effective center post mounting for a narrow frame illuminated sign of the type described.

It will be observed that a vertical supporting post having its lower end embedded in the ground or other base material is indicated by the numeral 9. The upper end of said post has welded or otherwise aifixed thereto a plate 10. A U-shaped frame supporting bracket or stirrup is indicated generally by the numeral 111 and the lower surface of the same, intermediate its sides, has welded or otherwise secured thereto a complementary plate 12 adapted to seat on the post carried plate 1% and to be secured thereto by bolts 13.

The spread between the vertical side arms of the U- shaped bracket or stirrup 11 is somewhat greater than the length of the sign frame to be received therebetween in the manner shown in Fig. l. The inner face of each of the vertical side arm portions of the U-bracket 11 has welded or otherwise secured thereto spaced apart angle brackets 14 and 15. Complementary angle brackets 16 and 17 are bolted to vertically spaced apart exposed portions of the end members 6 of the drum frame. The exposed portions of the end members 6 of the drum frame are provided in the sign illustrated because the facing frames 7 are formed of angle members which merely partially overlap the outer faces of the drum frame members 6, in the manner shown in Fig. 3, aroviding vertical recesses or channels for the flush accommodation of the vertical portions of the angled brackets 16 and 17, whereby said portions of the brackets 16 and 17 are concealed and protected. The horizontal flanges of the angled brackets 16 and 17 overlap the horizontal flanges of the U-bracket carried angle members 14 and 15 and are secured thereto by bolts 18.

The post and stirrup arrangement provides a very efficient form of mounting for a narrow frame illuminated sign and requires no modification whatsoever of the sign except the bolting to the drum frame elements 6 of the complementary attaching brackets 15 and 17 which are accommodated by virtue of the spaces between the angle members forming the swingable facing frames. The drum frame formed of the secured together members 6 remains stationary and the mounting in no Way interferes with the swinging movements of the two opposed facing frames for access to the interior of the sign frame.

The generally rectangular sign illustrated is merely one form of sign, and Within the contemplation of the present Patented. May 14, 1957 invention, the sign to be carried by the improved center post mounting may be of any desired geometrical shape.

The improved center post mounting for illuminating signs is neat and attractive in appearance, is easily ap-- plied to the sign frame, and in no mannercovers or interferes with the faces of the sign frame and their opening movements, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination, a vertical supporting post, a stirrup centrally mounted on said post and having upwardly directed side arms, a display sign partially spacedly positioned Within said stirrup in the plane thereof, said sign including a stationary metallic drum frame and a pair of transluscent faced cover frames removably mounted on opposite sides of the drum frame, each cover frame including angle members which partially overlap the end elements of the drum frame, exterior vertical extents of the latter being exposed and lying in planes inwardly of the overlapping portions of the cover frame angle members and forming channels, and securing brackets interposed between adjacent portions of the stirrup side arms and the exposed portions of the end elements of the drum frame and having portions lying in said channels in the planes of the cover frame angle members and flush therewith.

2. In combination, a vertical supporting post, a stirrup centrally mounted on said post and having upwardly directed side arms, a display sign partially spacedly positioned within sad stirrup in the plane thereof, said sign including a stationary metallic drum frame having end elements and a pair of transluscent faced cover frames removably mounted on opposite sides of the drum frame, each cover frame including angle members which partially overlap the end elements of the drum frame, exterior vertical extents of the latterbeing exposed and lying in planes inwardly of the overlapping portions of 4 the cover frame angle members to provide channels, the cover frame angle members forming spaced protective ribs on opposite sides of the exposed portions of the end elements of the drum frame, and securing brackets attached to the stirrup side arms and to the exposed portions of the end elements of the drum frame in the channels between the spaced ribs formed by the overlapping angle members and flush with the latter.

3. In combination, a vertical supporting post, a stirrup centrally mounted on said post and having upwardly di rected side arms, a display sign partially spacedly positioned within said stirrup in the plane thereof, said sign including a narrow stationary metallic drum frame having end elements and a pair of faced cover frames mounted on opposite sides of the drum frame, each cover frame including angle members which partially overlap opposite edge portions of the end elements of the drum frame, exterior vertical central extents of the latter being exposed and lying in planes inwardly of the overlapping portions of the cover frame angle members, the latter forming spaced ribs defining channels, and complementary angled securing brackets attached to the stirrup side arms and to the central exposed portions of the end elements of the drum frame between the spaced ribs formed by the overlapping angle members and flush with the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,804,770 Hershfield May 12, 1931 2,014,290 Pohlman Sept. 10, 1935 2,626,473 Howenstine Jan. 27, 1953 2,769,263 Wamser Nov. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 765,843 France Mar. 31, 1934 

